Golf putting training aid

ABSTRACT

A golf putting training aid includes a base frame having a sidewall, a collimator plate defining a collimator face, a positioning mechanism for holding the collimator plate and moving it in a parallel manner toward or away from the sidewall and locking the collimator plate in the desired position, a ball-hole table having a tabletop, a sliding groove extending around the tabletop and ball holes located on the tabletop in communication with the sliding groove, a ball lane covering the bottom panel of the base frame and the tabletop, and a track connected between the sliding groove and the end plate of the base frame.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to golf training aids and more particularly, to a golf putting training aid, which helps the user to control putting techniques at different putting distances.

2. Description of the Related Art

In golf, “putter” means a short golf club used for putting the ball into the hole; “putt” means a light golf stroke made on the putting green in an effort to place the ball into the hole.

Normally, when putting a golf ball, if the factors of the surroundings of the green, such as the lawn, wind direction, hole distance, slop, etc. are not taken into account, it is easier to put the ball into the hole by moving the putter head straightly ahead. In the contrary, if the putter head path is not straight, the ball will not roll straightly in direction toward the hole.

Further, when the putting force is constant, the distance of the putter head from the ball (hereinafter called as countermarch distance) is directly proportional to the ball rolling distance.

As a golf game beginner is not familiar with putting techniques, it is difficult to estimate the accurate countermarch distance. Further, because few simple and effective golf putting training aids are commercially available, a beginner is difficult to move the putter in putting the ball to roll straightly into the hole, or to estimate how far the ball can roll when putting the ball at a different countermarch distance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one object of the present invention to provide a golf putting training aid, which effectively helps the user control straight putting techniques, driving the ball to roll into the target hole.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a golf putting training aid, which helps the user understand the ball rolling distance when putting the ball at different countermarch distances.

To achieve these and other objects of the invention, a golf putting training aid comprises a base frame having a bottom panel and a sidewall arranged at right angles and an opening and an end plate located on the sidewall, a collimator plate having a collimator face at the front side, a positioning mechanism for holding the collimator plate and moving the collimator plate in a parallel manner toward or away from the sidewall and locking the collimator plate in the desired position, a ball-hole table having a tabletop, a sliding groove extending around the tabletop and ball holes located on the tabletop in communication with the sliding groove, a ball lane covering the bottom panel and the tabletop, and a track connected between the sliding groove and the end plate, and reference marks marked on the top edge of the collimator plate and equally spaced at a pitch equal to the diameter of a golf ball.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf putting training aid in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the base frame, collimator plate, positioning mechanism and track of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic top view of a part of the present invention, illustrating the arrangement of the positioning mechanism and the related components.

FIGS. 3 a˜3 d illustrate alternate forms of the positioning mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the ball-hole table and ball lane of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a part of the track of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of a part of the present invention, illustrating the coupling structure between one channel rail and one respective connector.

FIG. 7 is a top view illustrating a putting practice of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a golf putting training aid in accordance with the present invention is shown. The golf putting training aid 10 includes a base frame 20, a collimator plate 30, a positioning mechanism 40, a ball-hole table 50, a ball lane 60, and a track 70.

The base frame 20 comprises a rectangular bottom panel 21 to provide high stability, and a sidewall 22 upwardly extended from the rear side of the bottom panel 21 for supporting the positioning mechanism 40. Further, the sidewall 22 is stamped to provide two lugs 25 for the connection of the track 70, one obliquely backwardly extending end plate 26 at one end thereof, and an opening 27 adjacent to the end plate 26.

The collimator plate 30 is located at the front side of the sidewall 22, comprising a smooth collimator face 31 at the front side thereof, a first channel 32 and a second channel 33 symmetrically disposed at the rear side thereof at different elevations for selectively receiving a beam 41, which is affixed to the collimator plate 30 by a fastening member 35, for example, rivet, and marks 34 marked on the top edge and equally spaced at a pitch equal to the diameter of a golf ball.

The positioning mechanism 40 comprises two guide sleeves 42 affixed to the back side of the sidewall 22, two sliding axles 44 respectively inserted through the guide sleeves 42, two wing thumb screws 43 respectively driven into the guide sleeves 42 for locking the sliding axles 44 to the guide sleeves 42, and two screws 47 respectively inserted through respective screw holes 46 at the beam 41 into a respective screw hole 45 in one end of each of the sliding axles 44 to lock the sliding axles 44 to the beam 41. Thus, the collimator plate 30 is supported on the guide sleeves 42 and movable with the guide sleeves 42 toward or away from the sidewall 22 and then locked in position by means of the wing thumb screws 43. Further, each sliding axle 44 has graduations 48 marked on the periphery thereof for reference to evaluate biasing of the collimator plate 30, assuring straightness of the ball lane.

The positioning mechanism 40 may be variously embodied. For example, the positioning mechanism 40 a shown in FIG. 3 a comprises two links 28 inserted through the sidewall 22 to connect the collimator plate 30, and two pressure springs 29 respectively mounted on the links 28 between the sidewall 22 and the collimator plate 30; the positioning mechanism 40 b shown in FIG. 3 b comprises two hydraulic cylinders 36 affixed to the sidewall 22 with the respective piston rod thereof inserted through the sidewall 22 and connected with the collimator plate 30; the positioning mechanism 40 c shown in FIG. 3 c comprises a cross-linkage 37 coupled between the sidewall 22 and the collimator plate 30. Further, the positioning mechanisms 40 a˜40 c each also comprise a sliding axle 44 and a wing thumb screw 43 for locking the collimator plate 30. The positioning mechanism 40 d shown in FIG. 3 d comprises two racks 38 and two lock pins 39 to substitute for the sliding axles 44 and wing thumb screws 43 of the positioning mechanism 40 shown in FIGS. 1-3.

The ball-hole table 50 comprises a tabletop 51 defining a sloping face 53 and a planar face 54, a sliding groove 52 extending around the tabletop 51, a first ball hole 55 and a second ball hole 56 located on the planar face 54 and kept in communication with the sliding groove 52 for guiding every entered ball toward the sliding groove 52 and then the track 70.

The ball lane 60 is an elongated strip of artificial turf or synthetic fibers covered over the rectangular bottom panel 21 and the tabletop 51 and having a first hole 61 and a second hole 62 corresponding to the first ball hole 55 and the second ball hole 56. Further, the ball lane 60 is divided, by color, into a first zone 63 and a second zone 64. The first hole 61 is located in the first zone 63. The second hole 62 is located in the second zone 64. Further, a straight line 65 is longitudinally marked on the first zone 63 across the first hole 61 for checking the straightness of the rolling of the ball.

The track 70 comprises a first channel rail 71 a, a second channel rail 71 b, a third channel rail 71 c, and two connectors 80 for connecting the channel rails 71 a˜71 c. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the first channel rail 71 a comprises two rail-webs 72 respectively located on the two opposite long sides thereof, and a groove 73 extending along each rail-web 72. The first channel rail 71 a is secured to the rear side of the base frame 20 upon insertion of the lugs 25 into the locating groove 73. The first channel rail 71 a further comprises a beveled edge 74 located on one end thereof and abutted against the end plate 26 of the base frame 20, and two latch holes 75 located on the other end thereof for the connection of one connector 80. The second channel rail 71 b is connected to one end of the first channel rail 71 a. The third channel rail 71 c is connected between the second channel rail 71 b and the sliding groove 52 of the ball-hole table 50. The second channel rail 71 b and the third channel rail 71 c are structurally similar to the first channel rail 71 a with the exception that the second channel rail 71 b and the third channel rail 71 c each have a straight end edge and two latch holes 75 at each of the two ends thereof. Each connector 80 comprises four latches 81 arranged in a square array, and two angled coupling flanges 82 respectively upwardly extended from the two opposite long sides thereof and then horizontally inwardly extended toward each other. During installation, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, one end of the first channel rail 71 a and one end of the second channel rail 71 b are respectively inserted into one connector 80 to couple the respective rail-webs 72 to the respective angled coupling flanges 82 and to force the latches 81 into the respective latch holes 75. The second channel rail 71 b and the third channel rail 71 c are connected together with the other connector 80 in the same manner. The number of channel rails may be changed subject to the length design of the golf putting training aid 10. Further, dovetail joint or T-shaped tongue-and-groove joint may be used to substitute for the connectors for joining the channel rails.

When using the present invention, as shown in FIG. 7, move the collimator plate 30 to the desired position and then lock it in position, allowing the center 92 of the putter head 91 to be aimed at the straight line 65 of the ball lane 60. Thereafter, put the golf ball 95 on the straight line 65, and then accurately stand up and hold the golf putter 90 to abut the front edge of the putter head 91 against the collimator face 31, and then move the golf putter 90 to put the ball 95. As the putter head 91 is moved along the collimator face 31, the player can practice the feeling in putting the golf putter 90 and control the putting techniques, driving the ball 95 to move toward the goal, i.e., the first ball hole 55, and to roll into the hole.

During practice, the marks 34 of the collimator plate 30 help the player to know the rolling distance of the ball 95 when putting the ball 95 at a different countermarch distance. By means of repeated practice, the player can easily eastimate the accurate countermarch distance subject to the distance of the hole when playing in a real golf court, and then put the ball into the hole accurately. After entered the ball hole 55 or 56, the ball 95 will roll to the sliding groove 52 and then the track 70 due to the effect of its gravity and the effect of inertia. When the ball 95 touches the end plate 26, the reaction force will force the ball 95 to roll out of the opening 27 to the bottom panel 21 for next putting.

After a certain period of time in practice, the user may not need the collimator plate 30 to guide putting, and then directly put the ball 95 on the ball lane 60 toward the second ball hole 56, enjoying real straight putting. For practicing putting in a narrow place, the ball-hole table 50, the ball lane 60 and the track 70 may be removed from the base frame 20, and the user can use the base frame 20 and the collimator plate 30 to practice putting.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

What the invention claimed is:
 1. A golf putting training aid, comprising: a base frame comprising a sidewall; a collimator plate comprising a collimator face at a front side thereof; and a positioning mechanism adapted to hold said collimator plate at a front side relative to said sidewall, to move said collimator plate in direction toward or away from said sidewall in a parallel manner and to lock said collimator plate relative to said sidewall.
 2. The golf putting training aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein said positioning mechanism comprises one of the following structures a˜e: a) comprising two guide sleeves affixed to said sidewall, two sliding axles respectively inserted through said guide sleeves and affixed to said collimator plate, and two wing thumb screws respectively installed in said guide sleeves for locking said sliding axles to said guide sleeves; b) comprising two links inserted through said sidewall and connected to said collimator plate in parallel, two pressure springs respectively mounted on said links and stopped between said sidewall and said collimator plate, a guide sleeve affixed to said sidewall, a sliding axle inserted through said guide sleeve and connected with said collimator plate, and a wing thumb screw installed in said guide sleeve and adapted for locking said sliding axle to said guide sleeve; c) comprising two hydraulic cylinders affixed to said sidewall, each said hydraulic cylinder comprising a piston rod inserted through said sidewall and connected with said collimator plate, a guide sleeve affixed to said sidewall, a sliding axle inserted through said guide sleeve and connected with said collimator plate, and a wing thumb screw installed in said guide sleeve and adapted for locking said sliding axle to said guide sleeve; d) comprising a cross-linkage coupled between said sidewall and said collimator plate, a guide sleeve affixed to said sidewall, a sliding axle inserted through said guide sleeve and connected with said collimator plate, and a wing thumb screw installed in said guide sleeve and adapted for locking said sliding axle to said guide sleeve; and e) comprising two guide sleeves affixed to said sidewall, two racks respectively inserted through said guide sleeves and connected with said collimator plate, and two lock pins respectively mounted in said guide sleeves and adapted for locking said racks to said guide sleeves.
 3. The golf putting training aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein said collimator plate comprises a plurality of equally spaced marks marked on a top edge thereof.
 4. The golf putting training aid as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a ball-hole table comprising a tabletop, a sliding groove extending around said tabletop, and at least one ball hole located on said tabletop and kept in communication with said sliding groove; and a ball lane covered on a bottom panel of said base frame and said tabletop of said ball-hole table, said ball lane comprising at least one hole respectively aimed at said at least one ball hole.
 5. The golf putting training aid as claimed in claim 4, wherein said base frame comprises an opening located on said sidewall near one end thereof, an end plate obliquely backwardly extended from one end of said sidewall adjacent to said opening, and a track connected to a bottom side of said sidewall, said track having one end thereof connected to said end plate and an opposite end thereof connected to said sliding groove.
 6. The golf putting training aid as claimed in claim 5, wherein said track comprises a plurality of channel rails connected in a line. 